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HamlinDesign

Shop owner

AnnouncementHandmade original one-of-a-kind small animal sculptures; photographs and other items

Please help real animals: be their voice. They need us to protect and defend them.

I love ALL animals with all my heart, so I donate as much as I can to various animal funds, societies and rescues. From elephants to whales; rhinos to tigers; dogs and cats to horses...I donate in no particular order.

Announcement

Handmade original one-of-a-kind small animal sculptures; photographs and other items

Please help real animals: be their voice. They need us to protect and defend them.

I love ALL animals with all my heart, so I donate as much as I can to various animal funds, societies and rescues. From elephants to whales; rhinos to tigers; dogs and cats to horses...I donate in no particular order.

My feline family - Chouchou and her brother Elioth. A constant source of inspiration!

My canine family - Ginger and her brother Ellwood. Bigger goofballs do not exist, but I love them!

Be the voice of the voiceless. #NoTrophyHunting #NoCannedHunting Sign petitions and make noise. #EnoughIsEnough

Polymer clay animal sculptures

For me, creating an animal sculpture is the result of my wanting to bring to life something that not only has a story to tell, but has a 'voice' to tell it with. That voice is not a voice to be heard with one's ears, but with one's eyes, hands and heart.

When one of my little animals is 'adopted', it is my wish that they go on to live in the heart of someone else and to bring them some kind of emotion. Preferably, love or happiness. In its new home, the story of an animal sculpture may change from the one I gave it, but I don't mind! What is most important is that the animal gives someone a reason to smile. Several of my animals have been adopted in memory of a lost love, be it a person or an animal friend.

It is exactly this that lead me to make my first animal sculpture...I wanted to make a cat in honour of my beloved Siamese boy, Lautrec. He often sat with me as I worked with the clay and made my first little birds and cats, but sadly just a few months after opening my Etsy shop, he died (and took a big piece of my heart with him). Now, I believe Lautrec is with me when I create each new animal*...he is there to encourage me and to give me vision.

But even with the spiritual guidance of Lautrec, many clay animals are made, but only a fraction of them find their way to my Etsy shop. A LOT end in the waste bin. The failures may have an incorrect shape, or are cracked or have shifted while baking or they might lack that special 'spark' that draws one's eye toward them.

It has never been a goal of mine to churn out cookie cutter critters. I want to create each time a likeness of an animal to show the love I have for all animals. Despite the occasional frustration I have when creating certain animals (e.g. giraffes!), I find that with each failed attempt I learn something and each time a buyer asks me to make something I have never made, I am put in the position to push myself (e.g. making a monkey). Finally, the positive energy I get when a buyer tells me how happy they are with their little animal makes all the energy and worry worthwhile. Worry? Yes. I do worry. I worry that the animal might not be 'just right' (my husband thinks I'm a bit obsessive about it!) or that others might not see what I am trying to project through the animal. But in the end, it is the joy a little clay animal can bring to others that inspires me to do the best I can to make other animals that could bring joy to more people!! After all, the world needs more joy...all year round!!

*My animal sculptures are called 'waz-O animaux' which comes from a story about Lautrec and his love of a trio of crows that lived near our flat when we lived in a French speaking city. They were his oiseaux (birds) and as soon as he would hear their 'caw' he would run to a window and search for them. In his honour, I call all my little animals 'waz-O' being the phonetic pronunciation of the French word 'oiseaux'.

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MY THOUGHTS ON HUNTING: I do not now and never will, have any respect for beings that hunt and kill animals for sport. Murder is murder. I have the utmost contempt for anyone who takes pleasure in killing an animal.

IF YOU ENJOY HUNTING AND KILLING ANIMALS, DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING FROM THIS SHOP....EVER!! I AM NOT INTERESTED IN MONEY FROM ANYONE WHO HAS A HEART SO HARD THAT FEELS NO PAIN WHEN THEY EXTINGUISH THE LIFE OF A BEING.

There is far too much cruelty to animals in this world and it must stop. We must be the voices of all animals and fight their fight against the humans that do not know how to love and respect them. This starts will loving the animals in your life and extends to protecting the animals that you will never see or touch such as elephants, lions, tigers, black rhinos, polar bears, whales, dolphins, and a long list of other animals by signing petitions to help them. Do not support places like SeaWorld and do not buy products made from the bodies of animals that are endangered (e.g. ivory, tiger bones, rhino horn, etc.). If you want ideas of what you can do, please feel free to ask me..I would be happy to share any of the many different organisations that I donate to in the name of the animals. Please...please be the voice of the animals...they need us NOW!!

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Shop members

Cat Hamlin

Owner, Maker, Designer, Curator

When creating an animal sculpture, I let the love I have for all animals guide my hands. REAL animals are perfect and precious and each of them deserves our love and protection. I donate 50% of my earnings to save and protect animals worldwide.

Shop policies

Last updated onMarch 17, 2015

Thanks for looking at my shop. I am constantly creating new animals to add to my Waz-O line of polymer clay sculptures. At the same time, I am also working on new techniques in this medium so please return to my shop as you may be surprised what you find on your next visit!

As for the vintage items in my shop, I am always on the lookout for new/old (vintage) tins to add to my shop. If there is something that you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me...perhaps I can find it for you!

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Payment

Paypal only.

Shipping

I do my utmost to post items within 5 days of purchase, however, I reserve the right to ship later if I am constrained by weather, emergencies or elements out of my control. My standard method of shipping is by registered post.

POSTAGE RATES AND METHODS:

The shipping rate shown for each item is based on the cost of REGISTERED, signed for post. Note that with registered mail, your packaged can be tracked and traced, but if for some reason it has been lost once I have given it over to the postal service (I obtain ptoof of posting for each item except digital items), I will not be able to replace the item or return your money to you. Rest assured though, to date, of the approximately 400 items I have posted around the world by registered mail, only 1 item has been 'lost'...and even that one eventually showed up.

NOTE: The buyer is responsible for any customs duties and taxes.

INSURED POST: If you prefer to have an item sent by insured (and registered) post, I would be happy to obtain an estimate for you, just please send me a note requesting the insured postage rate before purchasing the item.

EXPRESS SHIPPING: If you absolutely need for me to post an item right away so that you can have it within a few days, please contact me first so that I can let you know if this is possible and the cost, if so.

Refunds and Exchanges

VINTAGE ITEMS: Please look at the photos I provide carefully. If you are still not sure, feel free to contact me for additional photos or information. I try to describe my vintage articles as best as possible, noting any marks, damage or breaks as best as possible. Again, if you would like further information or images, contact me and I will provide whatever information I can. Vintage items are just that..vintage, which means AT LEAST 20 years old, but in many cases they are even older and have already had one life so do know that these items will not be perfect. I do not accept returns of vintage items nor do I refund them.

Additional policies and FAQs

WAZ-O ANIMAL SCULPTURES: each animal is entirely handmade. This fact carries with it the acceptance that the sculpture will have imperfections; the kind of imperfections that come from being made by hand and not by a machine or mass-produced according to a mold or form. Each piece I make is entirely unique. I may recreate a same kind of animal, but I guarantee that no two will ever be exactly the same..this would be impossible!! Each animal is a one of a kind item made by my hands and inspired by my heart. <3 <3 <3

If you are looking for perfection and not uniqueness, perhaps my shop is not the place for you. If, however, you are looking for something that is truly one-of-a-kind (OOAK), please stop by and browse my shop and if you have any questions while you are there, feel free to contact me and I'll be happy to answer them as best I can!!